Stroger's budget called 'bad deal'

December 19, 2008

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's budget proposal relies far too much on borrowing to pay day-to-day expenses, according to an analysis to be released today by a business-backed budget watchdog group."It's an extraordinarily bad deal for the citizens of Cook County at an extraordinarily difficult time," Civic Federation President Laurence Msall said. "We are opposing this budget, because it's built on the unsustainable concept of borrowing over $360 million for operating expenses right on the heels of this massive tax increase."

He was referring to a 1 percentage-point sales tax increase Stroger pushed through the board in February that is expected to generate $390 million in revenue next year.

Although Stroger said the tax increase primarily was needed to save the county's massive public health system, the Civic Federation's report concludes only $46 million of the new revenue is going to health care.

Stroger's proposed $2.9 billion budget, as currently structured, also calls on the county to borrow $376 million for capital projects.